By LIA STEAKELY

FOR THE YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC

Photos by John Froschauer/For The Yakima Herald-Republic Mariachi Ayutla perform in the Capitol rotunda Wednesday.

"There are so many issues facing the Latino community right now, it's important for us to come here today to show lawmakers that we are united on the issues," said Graciela
Villanueva-Lopez, a recruiting manager for the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic.

This was the second year that Villanueva-Lopez and her 17-year-old sister, Cristina, traveled to Olympia to participate in the annual event. While there, they voiced support for House Bill 1194, a measure detailing alternative graduation requirements if students fail the math portion of the WASL.

If passed, the bill would require students to retake the math portion annually, take additional math classes and graduate if they passed all the other sections of the test. Nearly half of the state's juniors failed the WASL's math portion last year.

The sisters hope lawmakers green light House Bill 1806, which would prohibit application of most hazardous pesticides near school facilities. It would also require the state Board of Health to create a list of products dangerous to students and teachers and restrict the use of toxic chemicals on school grounds.

In addition to health care and education topics, Hector Franco, a Yakima activist who helped organize the Yakima delegation, spent part of the day talking strategies with Rep. Bruce Chandler, R-Granger, and other lawmakers to help Hispanic business owners be more competitive in the marketplace.

Lorenzo Cuevas, left, and his brother Jose, front, along with Graciela Villanueva-Lopez, right, and her sister, Cristina, applaud during a Hispanic Day rally in the Capitol rotunda in Olympia on Wednesday. All are from the Yakima area. Lorenzo Cuevas, left, and his brother Jose, front, along with Graciela Villanueva-Lopez, right, and her sister, Cristina, applaud during a Hispanic Day rally in the Capitol rotunda in Olympia on Wednesday. All are from the Yakima area.

"A recent report found that Hispanic businesses only grew 3 percent in the last five years and revenues decreased by 10 percent," said Franco. "We want the state to partner with existing local agencies to identify the barriers and help Hispanic businesses be more successful."

Wednesday's event included a rally inside the Capitol rotunda. Later in the afternoon, Gov. Chris Gregoire spoke to about 350 rally participants.